Andrew Douglas and Blake Richardson (The EaseAlert System, Using AI for Peer Support and the Importance of Sleep) - Episode 1168

Behind The Shield

James Geering

Health & Fitness, Mental Health, Fitness

4.9 • 667 Ratings

🗓️ 27 November 2025

⏱️ 76 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Andrew Douglas is a former firefighter/paramedic and creator of the mental health app Siento. Blake Richardson is the son of a firefighter and co-founder of the alert system EaseAlert. We discuss impriving firefighter rest and recovery, how to avoid waking crews unecessarily, using AI to help improve peer support conversations and so much more.

Blake Richardson grew up around the firehouse. His dad, Brad Richardson, is a captain and paramedic for a fire department in northern Florida. Brad became the inspiration behind EaseAlert when Blake noticed the toll that firefighting was taking on his dad each day that he returned from duty. Blake wanted to come up with a way to make his dad’s job less stressful. EaseAlert is that solution. Blake and co-founder/COO, Elezar Tonev began working on EaseAlert in 2019. With its suite of tactile alerting devices, EaseAlert is redefining alerting systems and setting the bar for heart smart alerting in the fire service. Today, they have a fully functional system and their brand new Firefighter Alerting System is beginning to catch the attention of fire departments around the United States.

Siento was born from the personal experiences of its CEO, Andrew Douglas, who spent years on the front lines as a firefighter/paramedic and union leader. After confronting his own battles with PTSD and a suicide attempt, Andrew felt compelled to create the solution he wished he had during his darkest times.

Understanding the intense pressures and unique challenges faced by those in high-stress professions, he was driven to create a tailored solution that effectively addresses the mental health needs often overlooked in such fields.

Siento manifested as a stigma-free mental wellness and peer support management platform, dedicated to providing first responders and high-stress professionals with accessible, confidential, and culturally competent mental health support.

Teams that use Siento ensure their members have the resources to thrive, not just survive.

Ease Alert - https://www.easealert.com/

Siento - https://siento.io/

Episode Sponsors:

https://www.bubsnaturals.com/

Use Code BTS for 20% off

Stationwise:

https://www.stationwise.com/

Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode is sponsored by yet another incredible company that I stand behind fully,
0:04.9	and that is Bubbs Naturals.
0:07.1	Now, I've not only used Bubbs products for four years now,
0:11.2	but I've also had the founder, Sean Lake, on the show twice.
0:15.2	And they are offering you the audience of the Behind the Shield podcast 20% of your entire order and I will give you that code in a
0:22.5	moment. Now, Bubbs has a very powerful backstory. Glenn Bubb Doherty is one of the two Navy SEALs
0:30.2	killed protecting the CIA facility in Benghazi and wanting to honor his best friend, Sean stood up this company.
0:39.1	Now, it began with their flagship product, which is their collagen. And I have to say, as a
0:44.2	Brit with really dry skin, who's now 51, I cannot underline the importance of collagen in your
0:50.7	diet. I have seen a huge positive impact on my skin, nails, hair, and most
0:56.7	importantly, digestive system. Another thing that I use religiously is their MCT creamers. That's the part
1:03.6	of coconut oil that is good for our brain. And they come in dairy and non-dairy, depending on your
1:09.2	diet. Now, most recently, I've started adding in creatine to your diet. Now most recently I've started adding in
1:12.1	creatine to my diet. Another thing that I've been told is good for our brain health. And with so many of us
1:18.0	being exposed to tbIs, concussions and sleep deprivation, the positive brain health element of
1:24.7	creatine is essential. Now in addition, Bubbs makes apple cider vinegar
1:30.3	gummies, vitamin C, and their hydration product, hydrate or die. And several of these products
1:38.1	are also NSF certified, which is the highest level of certification as far as efficacy and cleanliness.
1:45.6	Now, one of the most important elements of this company, in my opinion, is that they are a social
1:50.1	business, meaning 10% of their profits go to charity, and in this case, it is the Glenn Doherty
1:56.4	Foundation. Now, as I mentioned before, they are offering you the audience of the Behind
2:01.8	the Shield podcast 20% off your entire order if you use the code BTS at bubs naturals.com. And if you
	...

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